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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Dropped Centile EBF Baby

13 replies

NickeeS · 07/01/2010 17:56

DD is 16 weeks today and ebf and up until this week has happily followed the 9th centile. Since I last had her weighed a month ago she has dropped to the 2nd centile, having only gained 7oz's in that month. She is fed on demand, having boob when ever she wants and is a happy little thing. She is happily sleeping through the night 12 hours. The health visitor now wants her weighed weekly to "keep an eye on her".
Please help, what am I doing wrong ?

OP posts:

belindarose · 07/01/2010 18:16

No advice, as you're not doing anything wrong. Just hope to reassure you. My DD is 20 weeks and has dropped steadily from 92nd centile at birth to 2nd! Not saying I wasn't worried, but have had her seen by a paediatrician who says she's 'a well baby, who's meant to be small'. She's extremely active - rolling over and sitting independently for a minute at a time. You feel so responsible when BF though, that it easily knocks your confidence when they're not getting enormous (well, it does mine anyway). You sound like you're doing a great job, BF on demand and having a happy (and sleeping - wow!) baby.

ladylush · 07/01/2010 18:17

Just wanted to offer my sympathy (sorry no good advice to offer). My dd has just dropped 2 centiles so I will watch this and hope someone like Tiktok can offer some good advice.

tiktok · 07/01/2010 19:11

Nickees, you might find the reply I've just written in the '25 week old baby' thread can apply to you, too

A drop to the 2nd centile from the 9th in a healthy, happy baby is not normally a cause for concern, but if it worries you, breastfeed her more, using at least both breasts. That will do no harm at all.

You are not doing anything 'wrong' as far as I can see.

Original poster

NickeeS · 07/01/2010 19:47

belindarose thanks for the reassurance, it was just the way the HV said "keep an eye on her" like I was starving her, I becan to question my supply, but then when DD bobbed up with that drunk milky smile on her face today I knew there couldn't be a problem.

ladylush thanks for the sympathy, looks like tiktok has come up trumps again.

tiktok thanks I will go read the thread, I think I has stuffed her to the point of bursting today lol, she is now happily asleep after having a 45 minute feed (from both boobs).

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stopcopyingme · 07/01/2010 19:58

I wouldn't be too worried about centiles, remember it's just indicates an "average baby" weight gain.

my first was BF for 7 1/2 months and started out life on the 50th centile but by 4 months was on the 98th! but perfectly healthy. my second now 7 1/2 months, is breast fed and was born above the 91st but is now below the 50th centile, again looking very healthy and hitting all other milestones.

as long as all the other signs are fine and she is feeding well/often i wouldn't be too worried.

Original poster

NickeeS · 07/01/2010 20:21

stopcopyingme thanks for that, this is my first baby and I think I paniced a bit when they said they wanted to weigh her weekly (

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olivo · 07/01/2010 20:58

nickee, my dd is 20 weeks and has dropped from 50th to 25th centile; i am also excl bf. try not to worry, i have heard it is perfectly normal as long as there are no other worrying signs. i panicked too, as at this stage, dd1 went from 35th to 70th or something similar!
I have onloy had her weighed three times so far, stops my panicking as i rely on what i can see and how she is!

jollyma · 07/01/2010 21:26

I agree, don't panic. There is too much emphasis on weight in healthy babies. Ds1 went up and down the centiles and I had to be stubborn with the Health Visitor about not having him weighed weekly because he was otherwise healthy and ebf. A bf councillor told me that the centile charts are based on formula fed babies and should be taken as a guide for bf babies.

Original poster

NickeeS · 07/01/2010 21:45

olivo jollyma thanks for the reassurance I don't think I will be having her weighed weekly, I think I will stick to fortnightly.

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Dawnybabe · 07/01/2010 22:05

My little girl dd2 dropped from 50th to 9th in a month from 16-20 weeks and my hv did panic a bit which unfortunately made me panic a bit and I started topping her up with formula. I just couldn't see how I was going to feed her twice as much which is what the hv seemed to be saying. My dd was happy, sleeping through the night, etc and all my friends subsequently told me it's what bf babies do, their weight doesn't gain as steadily as ff babies. I guess it's to do with the fact that you never really know how much they're taking.

I've dropped the bf altogether now, just this week. Have to say I miss the closeness a bit.

Don't take as gospel everything your health visitor says. They always seem to treat bf babies the same as ff babies.

Incidently my dd1 wasn't bf and is ahead of all her peers in everything. Don't worry too much about it! As long as baby is fed is all you need to worry about.

Well done though, and I hope you enjoy it. X

Dawnybabe · 07/01/2010 22:07

Just read that back, I don't mean I dropped bf on that basis. She's nearly 8 months now, is eating for england and much prefers a nice easy bottle of formula and a bowl of fruity porridge than trying to get milk out of me!

Original poster

NickeeS · 07/01/2010 22:37

thanks Dawnybabe thats reassuring. I was panicing as DD refuses point blank on taking a bottle of formula and will only take ebm when pushed, so like you wasn't sure how I was ever going to get her to take a top up. Hoping to get her on Formula when she goes onto solids but not holding my breath. I am dreading giving up BF I love it sooooooooo much

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Dawnybabe · 07/01/2010 23:20

It is lovely isn't it

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